NCIt definition : A polyether antibiotic isolated from Streptomyces conglobatus sp. nov. Trejo with
antineoplastic activity. Ionomycin is a calcium ionophore that increases intracellular
Ca levels, possibly relating to endonuclease activation of lymphocytes and decreased
ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax and ultimately apoptosis. In addition, this agent is used to
investigate the role of intracellular calcium in cellular processes. (NCI);